New lions at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo illustrate challenges of adding animals to an exhibit (gallery)

CLEVELAND, Ohio — There's a complex courtship going on in Old Brooklyn now involving an intimidating male named Moufasa and two newly arrived females named Nala and Serena.

They are lions at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and only half of the equation. The other half involves the crowds that visit the zoo year-round.

The four-way courtship illustrates some of the challenges of getting new animals on display. The process is different from species to species. But in each case, care must be taken to ensure the well-being of the animals and the safety of zoo personnel and the people who will be viewing the exhibits.

There are no tame, domesticated animals at the zoo.

"All of the animals have the potential to be dangerous," said Andi Kornak, Curator of Animals at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, even if most of the species is docile.

Some, like the African elephants and Western Lowland gorillas, have the potential to harm just because of their size and strength. Lions, on the other hand, are among the largest so-called obligate carnivores, which means it is their nature to eat meat.

In the case of these lions, the introduction to their new quarters is in the final phase of a long, careful process that began months ago.

Nala, 8, and Serena, 7, came from a private sanctuary in July, so acclimating them to their exhibit involves making sure they are used to each other and new surroundings, as well as getting them comfortable with having people visit. They didn't make their public debut until earlier this month.

Zoo personnel faced a similar introduction process when the zoo was gearing up for the African Elephant Crossing that opened in 2011. Three female elephants had spent three years in Columbus. Those animals got their first look at the new exhibit when they returned in late 2010.

Then the keepers and curators had to introduce additional elephants that had no knowledge of the exhibit or the new herd. And at the same time, the staffers themselves had to get used to handling the animals in the new exhibit.

When introducing new animals, the size of the exhibit they left behind is important.

"If you are putting them in a smaller exhibit," Kornak said, you have to be prepared for them getting used to being closer to the public.

The new zoo also has to know what visual barriers they had before, whether they are used to moats, to rocky outcroppings or chain-link fence.

One animal's idiosyncrasies can clash with the nuances of a new exhibit.

Kornak mentioned a case at another zoo involving a female wolf.

The new exhibit included an elevated walkway that allowed visitors to look down on the animals. "She could never acclimate to people being above her on a boardwalk," she said.

Specieswide tendencies also have to be considered. "Some hoof stock might become startled and move full speed," Kornak said, which puts them at risk of injury or death if their flight path is over unknown territory.

"You have to make sure they have enough space for that, or a safe area they can get into."

The adults already are comfortable in the exhibit, and the nurturing of the new animals is done by someone with an instinct for it: mom.

"The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo really prefers and encourages nature to take its course," Kornak said.

When meerkats were born there earlier this month, she said the staff knew of the births, but did not know how many, and they had no intention of disturbing the burrows to find out.

That kind of natural acclimating wasn't possible, though, when four grizzly cubs arrived last year. There was no built-in nanny because they were orphaned.

"They didn't have a mom to teach them," Kornak said. So the staff had to watch their behavior and try to gauge their needs. One accommodation was to lower the water level in the exhibit so the cubs could build confidence while they learned to swim.

View full sizeMarvin Fong, The Plain DealerDoors to the lion holding area, their night quarters, are kept open as a safe place to retreat for Nala, shown here, and Serena as they adjust to their new surroundings at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. They joined the male lion, Moufasa, on public display this month.

The public introduction of Nala and Serena began Sept. 6. Since the pair had no familiarity with public spectators, the process has been drawn out and gradual.

The open-air yard in the lion exhibit has two entryways from the holding area – the animals' night quarters that is immediately behind the exhibit and isolated from the public.

Sunday was the first day that they lolled outdoors with Moufasa, for the public to see the trio together. The back doors, however, remained open and still do.

Up until then, both would look out from an open doorway and one might screw up the courage to be outside with Moufasa, 14, who has been here since 1998 and is yawningly indifferent to the fans.

The three had a chance to get used to one another off-exhibit already, but that was without the added stimulation of a public – and an exhibit – the girls had never known.

On their first chance to greet the public Sept. 6, Kornak asked staffers, "What's your confidence level with aggression?"

There had been no aggression off-exhibit, "but outside is different from inside," cautioned animal keeper Claire Winkler, who knows lion behavior from careful observation and is familiar with how this trio gets along.

"This part is usually long and slow, which is how it should be," associate curator Chris Peterson observed. "If it's exciting it's because something has really gone wrong."